CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- The City Government of San Fernando through its City Tourism Office in partnership with the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), and San Fernando Arts and Culture Council over the weekend launched this year’s National Arts Month celebration in grand rites at Vista Mall here.

Dubbed “Namnamin”, this year’s National Arts Month celebration will run from February 15 to February 26.

NCCA Director and Lirip: Journal of Interdisciplinary Studies Editor-in-Chief Dr. Juliet Mallari said that food writing is the emphasis for this year’s celebration.

"I belong to the Literary Arts Committee. Food writing is the emphasis for this year. That is why we coined the term 'Namnamin' from the acronym of National Arts Month (NAM) and ‘to savor’ for the theme. We are inviting everyone to join us because this is just only for this year. We also have performances related to food. We have songs, films, dances. Everything about food. Topics are all about food. On the 25th, we have sessions in the afternoon with Miss Feliz, a known food writer. On the second day we have the cooking demo of Lillian Borromeo. The third day will be a cooking demo and food trip to Angeles City with Chef Sau Del Rosario,” she said.

“Those [Lirip] are academic papers, but it just happened that we're launching National Arts Month that's why we have it here. But my main concern here is 'Namnamin', the theme of the National Arts Month which is a project of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts. It's here in Pampanga because the theme is food and art. It's really meant for the Kapampangans, those who are good in cooking, and we want to showcase our delicacies also, food really so Namnamin is going to be held at the Orchids Garden,” she said.

“We're going to display the food. We will have cooking demos as well. And of course we will have on the first day National Artist Virgilio Almario giving the keynote address. We will also have several sessions, discussions in food writing and then we will also have chefs to talk about their culinary expertise like Claude Tayag who is both a chef and a painter. It's just right for the celebration of National Arts Month," Mallari added.

She said that “Namnamin” aims to spread art appreciation particularly in Pampanga as Kapampangans are very artistic.

Meanwhile, the books Ding Mikakapatad (The Siblings) authored by City Tourism Officer Ching Pangilinan and her daughter Sunis Pangilinan Gonzales, and the University of the Philippines Diliman Extension Program in Clark, Pampanga’s Lirip: Journal of Interdisciplinary Studies were launched during the event.

The children’s book, Ding Mikakapatad, is a project for a cause which aims to distribute at least 500 books in public schools within and outside the City of San Fernando.

Lirip: Journal of Interdisciplinary Studies is an academic journal that consists of titles such as: Cross-Cultural Dimensions and Geopolitical Interests in the South China Sea Conflict by Dr. Melba Maggay; A Case Study on the Usefulness of Video Recordings of Math Lectures as Supplementary Learning Materials by Assistant Professor Angela Carreon; Assessing the Citizen’s Charter Formulation and Implementation in Clark-based Public Sector Organizations by Dr. Patrick de Leon; Dumilat, Nasugat, at Haplos sa Pilat: Isang Diskurso sa Pagsaksi at Pag-alaala sa Digmaan (Open Eyes, Open Wounds, and a Deep Scar: On Witnessing and Recalling War) by Jaime Mendoza, Jr.; Pain in Local Filipino Art, Performance Ritual, and Belief by Dulce Cuna; and Ang Manunulat na Filipino at Gunitang Pambansa by National Artist for Literature Virgilio Almario.

A ribbon cutting ceremony of the art exhibit which features the works of The Outstanding Fernandino Awards (TOFA) awardees in the field of arts and culture namely Benjamin Lingad, Rolando Quiambao, and Ernesto Quiwa was also held during the launching. The said exhibit will run until February 22.

Other activities include lecture and workshop about “Kanita Ampong King Kasalungsungan: Asian Traditional Music and Contemporary Composition” and exhibit and workshop about Kapampangan calligraphy on February 16 at the San Fernando Train Station; art exhibit featuring TOFA awardees in the field of Arts and Culture: Erwin Dayrit, Alvaro Jimenez, and Don Reich de Dios on February 18 to 21 at SM Telabastagan; 133rd birth anniversary of Jose Abad Santos, special screening of Honor: The Legacy of Jose Abad Santos, and exhibit and book launch of Honor: The Legacy of Abad Santos on February 19 at SM Pampanga; lecture and workshop on kite-making on February 20 at the San Fernando Train Station; art exhibit featuring the works of TOFA awardee in the field of Arts and Culture: Rafael Maniago on February 21 to 27 at SM Pampanga; and lecture and workshop on ballpen art on February 21 at Vista Mall.

The sub-committee of the NCCA, National Committee on Literary Arts, will highlight the annual “Ani ng Sining” which will be held on February 25 to 26 at the Orchids Garden here.

The main partners of NCCA for National Arts Month 2019 celebration in Pampanga are the San Fernando Tourism Office, Department of Tourism Region III, Pampanga Tourism Office, Magalang Tourism Office, Pampanga State Agricultural University, and Balanghai Restaurant.

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